Orange Line Improvement Project
The MTS Orange Line Improvement Project will improve the Orange Line between the 32nd & Commercial Street Station and the El Cajon Transit Center, increasing reliability, enhancing safety, and improving operational efficiencies. Through significant investment in infrastructure upgrades, safety enhancements and service reliability improvements, this project will ensure the Orange Line continues to serve riders efficiently, safely and dependably for years to come.
Construction is expected to take place between June 2025 and early 2028. There will be multiple weekend-long track closures between the El Cajon Transit Center and 32nd & Commercial. Riders can expect 1 – 3 stations to be impacted at any given time. MTS will still service all stations during the weekend-long closures with dedicated bus service.
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Project Benefits
The Orange Line Improvement Project will:
- Minimize delays
- Improve schedule reliability
- Replace aging infrastructure
- Allow Trolleys to travel faster
- Enhance the safety of the corridor
Check back for more information about project updates and track closure schedules or sign up for alerts directly to your inbox below.
Construction Time and Impacts
As part of this effort to maintain a solid state of good repair, MTS will need to shut down the tracks for 11 weekends for Phase 1 (Saturday at 1 a.m. through Monday at 4 a.m.) between October 2025 and November 2026.
During these closures, called Absolute Work Windows (AWW), riders will still be able to access all Trolley stations by taking a dedicated MTS bus shuttle. Riders will not have to pay an extra fare for using the bus shuttle.
Scheduled Closures
*Dates subject to change. Exact closure dates will be posted 30 days in advance.
Bus Bridge A
Bus Bridge B
Bus Bridge C
Bus Bridge D
Stay in the Know
Ways the public can find out about Orange Line Improvement Project Construction Alerts:
Call MTS Information and Trip Planning
(619) 233-3004
Monday-Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Documents
Download the fact sheets below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this project important?
The Orange Line Improvement Project will modernize much of the aging infrastructure along this Trolley line including new tracks, signals, crossing gates, pedestrian crossings, and more. When completed it will increase reliability, enhance safety and improve operational efficiencies, while also providing community and environmental benefits for San Diegans who travel regularly along the Orange Line and within the surrounding communities.
How much will this project cost to complete?
The Orange Line Improvements Project is estimated to cost $151M. Project funding currently includes two discretionary Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant awards, California SB 125 and MTS local matching funds.
How long will construction take place?
Construction is anticipated to take approximately 2 ½ years. It will be conducted in two phases. Construction schedules are subject to change.
- Phase 1 (between 32nd & Commercial and Massachusetts stations) will begin work in late summer 2025 and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2026.
- Phase 2 (between Massachusetts and El Cajon stations) is scheduled to begin work in fall 2026 and be completed in early 2028.
What is an Absolute Work Window?
An Absolute Work Window (AWW) is a scheduled period when no Trolley service will take place between a segment of the Orange Line as construction or maintenance work will be underway. Passengers will be required to transfer to a bus shuttle to access the impacted stations. AWWs are anticipated to be scheduled during select weekends for this project. Regular Trolley service will resume on Monday mornings.
Trolley closures seem to be on Saturday and Sundays only. Will closures continue into Monday or longer if the work is delayed by rain or something else?
Closures will not be extended beyond the weekend. Regular service will resume on Monday mornings.
How many closures will there be?
The project will generally include one planned weekend closure per month during construction. During Phase 1, there are 11 planned weekend closures. During Phase 2, there are 16 planned weekend closures. Please note that there may be changes to this schedule.
Will there be weekday construction that will impact service?
There will be some construction activities taking place during the week, but MTS does not anticipate this impacting service.
During planned closures, what alternatives do riders have to reach their destination?
During the weekend closures, riders will still be able to access all Orange Line Trolley stations by taking a dedicated MTS bus shuttle. Riders will not have to pay any extra fare for using the bus shuttle.
Will the schedule stay the same on the other Trolley lines?
Yes. The work on the Orange Line will not affect the schedules of any other Trolley lines.
How will this project impact the bus schedule?
There are no anticipated impacts to regular bus schedules on existing routes. Bus shuttles for the Orange Line will be separate from the regular bus lines. Riders will not have to pay any extra fare for using the bus shuttle. Riders will need a valid fare to ride.
Will this project speed up Trolley service?
While the improvements are not directed at increasing the frequency of Trolleys, the improved infrastructure will minimize delays and improve schedule reliability, allowing for future improvements to service frequency.
How will Trolley service be better after this project is complete?
In addition to increased reliability and less delays, the Orange Line Improvement Project will replace the aging infrastructure and create more dependable service. Additionally, upgrades to grade crossing equipment and three pedestrian crossings will enhance the safety of San Diegans who cross the Orange Line tracks.
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